My project investigates the role of nationalism in China's foreign policy and more specifically into the impact of civil society-state relationship on China’s foreign policy making. The need for an empirical part became even more obvious when I realised the Chinese and foreign understanding of nationalism towards Japan needs to be bridged. The interviewees targeted were Chinese academics, activists and journalists, so the generous grant from IAPS helped me fund my fieldwork in China.
I spent three months between May and July, mainly in Beijing and Shanghai, where I developed excellent networks with researchers from think tanks, professors from prestigious universities and activists whose first-hand accounts opened new perspectives in my research and to which I am very grateful. In addition, I had the chance to participate in an international conference where I presented a paper and which now offers publishing opportunities. It has been a great experience to further learn from and network with experts in the Chinese field.
Overall, this fieldwork has provided the hands-on approach required to complete my argument with novel elements, but it has also offered the opportunity to practice interview and focus groups skills and to network with people who share similar interests. Finally, it has been an inspirational and further motivational journey which was much needed at this stage of my research.
Oana Burcu, Doctoral Researcher
Posted on Thursday 6th November 2014